THE BIBLICAL CONCEPT OF FORGIVENESS
No word in the English language that makes one’s heart beat faster: Forgiveness
Little wonder poet Alexander Pope wrote: “To err is human, to forgive is divine”
This study we will look at Forgiveness from two points of view:
Divine forgiveness – that which is from God to Man
Human forgiveness – that which we extend to one another
“FORGIVENESS” BIBLICALLY PORTRAYED:
Two interesting words in Greek rendered “Forgive”.
One literally means “to send away”. It has a variety of meanings in Greek
But in its 36 times used in the N/T it always is associated with “Pardon of Sins”.
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Second Greek for “Forgiveness” means “to bestow a favor” or “to show kindness’.
Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
2 Cor. 2:7 So that on the contraryyou should rather to forgive him, and comfort him, that perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
Paul uses this term twice in: Forgiveness by us then Forgiveness by Christ
Col. 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.
There is a suggestion that just as the Lord forgave us, we should wholeheartedly extend the same kindness to others.
There are many exciting expressions of figurative language in scripture that portray a rich picture of forgiveness, that comes from the mind of God.
David praised the Creator for his loving kindness because:
Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, you have removed our transgressions from us.
The good king Hezekiah thanked the Lord for his redemption:
Isaiah 38:17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but you have in love to my soul, delivered it from the pit of corruption: for you have cast all my sins behind thy back.
The prophet Micah also praises the Lord for deliverance:
Micah 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and he will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
The N/T is equally filled with characterizations of pardon:
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
The Greeks used this term of “washing out” the ink from a papyrus sheet so that it might be used for writing again.
Another interesting term is to “”wash away”:
Acts 22:16 And now why do you tarry? arise, and be baptized, and wash awayyour sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
The scriptures uses “redemption” as an equivalent word for “forgiveness”.
Paul declared: Eph. 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Originally “redemption had to do with buying back a slave; But the N/T suggest the offer of freedom from the consequences of sin.
Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Jesus was the blameless sacrifice who bore the penalty for our sins:
Isaiah 53:5-6 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
THE IMPLICATIONS OF FORGIVENESS:
First: ‘forgiveness” implies an offense: One author said: “No breach of propriety,
No forgiveness is needed”.
Thus man is accountable to the Creator for his sins against the Creator.
Both theses matters are discussed in:
1 John 3:4 Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
John says sin is “lawlessness” or literally “without law”. This is a revolt against God.
Thus all of us to a degree are “outlaws”
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Second: “forgiveness” implies a personal inability to remedy the violation of the law.
Matthew 18:25 Because you could not pay,the lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
This man in one of Jesus’ parables represents each of us. So in debt we can not pay.
So according to the language of this parable the Lord our God, forgave the debt:
Matthew 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
No second mortgage or consolidation of bills will pay the debt of sins we owe!!!!
Now the question: Can Forgiveness be “Conditional”?
No better illustration of this can be seen while Christ was on the cross:
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Did God, at that point, forgive those Jews unconditionally? Absolutely NOT.
Note what Luke records in Acts: Which follows many days after Jesus said this
Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Then Luke says concerning those sins:
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent,
Obviously those Jews did not need to “repent” of sins already forgiven if the forgiveness was unconditional.
But Peter continues this verse to say: Acts 2:38 and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
It is obvious that those at the cross to whom Jesus said:
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; “The promise was conditional!”
God is willing to freely forgive us:
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
But there must be the expression of genuine faith in doing what God requires for the reception of his grace.
Also the child of God can become lax and his sins need pardon. Thus John writes to the one who has fallen away:
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Be sure to note the “if” in this scripture.
There really is two kinds of forgiveness: WayneJacksonsaid for a better expression:
There is “vertical”▲ forgiveness, that which comes from our loving father:
There is “horizontal” ► forgiveness, that which comes from one another:
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts ▲,as we forgive our debtors ►.
Both “vertical” ▲ and “horizontal” ► forgiveness are found in this passage – also in:
Col. 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, (horizontal) if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, (vertical) so also do ye.
CAN HUMAN BEINGS FORGIVE SINS?
When the Jews asserted:
Mark 2:7 Why does this man speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
The fact is they were right. In the final analyses, only God can offer pardon.
A man cannot say, to the thief who has stolen his car. “I forgive you” and the account be fully settled. Often we hear people say in court that they “forgive” the convicted person, but the crimes still must be paid for by the criminal.
In the final analysis, all sin is against God:
Psalm 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:
This is a very important point. All sin, no matter how small is a sin against God.
In what sense, do we forgive one another? How often have we said I forgive you.
Our forgiveness of each other has to do more with an “attitude” than a specific act.
Our attitude in forgiveness to be “Christ-like” is found in these principles:
1. The forgiving person does not attempt to take revenge:
Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. .
2. The forgiving person does not hate the offender, rather, in spite of the person’s evil, he loves him still. This is the Agape love.
3. The forgiving person is approachable, he leaves the door open for reconciliation wide open and longs for the welfare of the transgressor.
4. The forgiving person is tenderhearted toward his adversary.
Eph:4:32 And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.
5. The forgiving person is not passive in waiting for the offender to repent, he actively seeks the repentance of the one who wronged him.
Matthew 18:15-17 Moreover if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: if he shall hear you, you have gained a brother. But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto you as an heathen man.
The following passage puts this principle into sharper focus:
Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If your brother trespass against you, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
FORGIVENESS FROM “THE HEART”
Matthew 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if you from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
There is a difference from “lip forgiveness” and “heart forgiveness”
O how we need to learn this lesson !!!!!!
One writer said: “A lovely Christian woman, whose son was brutally murdered , struggled with the question of how to sincerely try to “forgive” the vicious killer who forever disrupted her mental tranquility”
Few will ever face such a challenge, what shall we say to help this lady?
Remember, forgiveness does not mean that the sin is ignored. That’s important
The legal courts are to take charge and the lady can not disrupt the legal process.
God may pardon the murderer, as he did Saul of Tarsus, but the person is still obligated toward the consequences of his violation of civil law.
Shyrl La Mar now sits in a cell at the Chowchilla State prison for the rest of her life, yet she has been taught the gospel and God has washed those sins away when she was baptized into Christ.
She works for the Lord, even in her cell: Read letter
With these thoughts, lets talk about some truths which may help us to cultivate the compassion and forgiving spirit that is God-like. As difficult as it may seem.
1. Matthew 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
We must take note of the value of the human soul – any soul.
Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
1 Tim. 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all,
Who are we to be selective with regard to those we are willing to forgive
2. No question that some sins have greater temporal consequences than others.
All sin is sin and are still a serious violation of the will of God.
James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. Death being separation from God
We look at verses in Romans 1:28 ff, I Cor :9-10, Gal 5:19-21 and Rev 21:8
All these list great sins, yet to God they are just as bad as a little white lie.
Who are we to be selective in what sins we will pardon.
3. We must reflect upon our own past and be aware of how disappointed God was with our sin. We have a tendency to minimize our own blunders and yet maximize the mistakes of others.
Inspiration puts the matter into sharper focus:
Titus 3:2-3 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
It is rather a terrible thing when we forget how many sins we have committed and been forgiven of.
2 Peter 1:9 But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
4. We must learn to forgive because to do otherwise will harm our very own mind.
I have a book “None of these Disease” by a prominent physician Dr S.I. McMillen and one of the chapters deals with the “High Cost of Getting Even”
Dr McMillen vividly shows that the bitter unforgiving spirit can bring a lot of stress both to the mind and body.
He says “Forgiveness” can be a matter of life and death.
FINALLY: THE JOY OF FORGIVENESS RECEIVED
This discussion would be incomplete if we neglect to note the great joy we have of knowing the great forgiveness from a loving God.
Do we remember they sinful woman who washed Jesus’ feet and dried them off with her long hair. She was most likely a former prostitute.
Luke 7:36-43 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus set to eat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that touches him: for she is a sinner.
The Lord later explained that her actions were the results of forgiveness she had received from him on an earlier occasion. This situation is not recorded in the N/T.
From this incident we learn this lesson.
Wayne Jacksonconcluded an article on this subject by saying:
“To whatever degree we savor the value of our forgiveness from God, and entertain an appreciation thereof, to that degree will our thanksgiving be reflected in a measure of service to the Lord. Little gratitude equals little service – and vice versa. What an index this is to the character of many. May Heaven help us to treasure the redemption of our souls, and to demonstrate such by faithful daily service.”
End quote
May I read that quote again: It is the answer to our faithfulness in our service to the Lord and his church.
Think about that statement, the next time you conceder missing any of the services.